This Android app just changed the desktop game: scrcpy

This week developer rom1v released an application for Mac, Windows, and Linux which makes Android appear on a desktop. The user has only to connect their smartphone to their desktop computer with a USB cord, and the Android’s home screen appears on their desktop’s screen. From there, mouse clicks and keyboard entry work and the phone’s functions are all available from the desktop, with little to no lag whatsoever.*

This scrcpy application works with Windows, Mac OS, and GNU/Linux. It was created by rom1v to allow the display and control of Android devices connected to desktop computers with USB. Nothing needs to be installed on the Android device to utilize scrcpy from a desktop.

Over at the Rom1V blog are instructions on how to download and install this application on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows. Below you’ll see a list of focus points for the app as provided by rom1v.

• lightness (native, displays only the device screen)• performances (30~60fps)• quality (1920×1080 or above)• low latency (70~100ms)• low startup time (~1 second to display the first image)• non-intrusiveness (nothing is left installed on the device)

INTERESTING: One user responded with an extra-unique use-case scenario involving the HTC VIVE. Using the VIVE, this user is already able to access their connected computer’s desktop. With this setup, they’re also able to access their phone without taking their headset off when they get a call – that’s neat! It’s also sort-of similar to what HTC has built-in. Have a peek at the HTC VIVE Phone Companion to see what that’s all about.

NOTE: This same developer, rom1v (Romain Vimont) developed a reverse-tethering tool for Android. This app goes by the name gnirehtet and can be read about on Medium. There, Vimont explains the very rare scenario in which your desktop computer has internet, and wants to provide that internet to a phone via USB. This is for that ONE TIME you needed your phone to access internet, but couldn’t connect to Wi-fi, but also had a laptop that was already successfully connected to Wi-fi.

*When I say little to no lag, of course there’s literally no way to have absolutely no lag, because of physics, but it’s CLOSE. It’s faster than any other system setup I’ve experienced like this. I’ve used Vysor, Samsung’s screen mirroring, and a few others – none compare to this. This is the best solution for this particular use case scenario.